It’s a move that would have seemed unfathomable four years ago, after the venomous fallout that followed his decision to leave Cleveland for the Miami Heat.

“My relationship with Northeast Ohio is bigger than basketball,” James told SI.com. “I didn’t realize that four years ago. I do now.”

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The Cavaliers will presumably sign him to a maximum deal, starting at $20.7 million in 2014-15.

They also would rekindle trade talks with the Minnesota Timberwolves about All-Star power forward Kevin Love, as well as attempt to surround James with some veteran shooters like Ray Allen, Mike Miller or James Jones.

The 6-foot-8, 240-pound James will immediately turn the Cavs into a championship contender. Oddsmaker Bovada.com has established the Cavs are the favorite to win the NBA championship with 4-to-1 odds. Defending champion San Antonio is next at 5-1, followed by Oklahoma City at 6-1.

James, 29, said he’s not planning any news conference after the gigantic announcement — one of the biggest sports stories ever in Northeast Ohio.

He’s returning to the Cavs, where he spent the first seven years of his NBA career, helping them to the 2007 NBA Finals.

James left the Cavs in July 2010 when he made the announcement on ESPN during the ill-fated “Decision.” Fans reacted angrily to him leaving, as several burned his No. 23 Jersey in effigy.

“I was leaving something I had spent a long time creating,” he told SI. “If I had to do it all over again, I’d obviously do things differently, but I’d still have left.

“I became a better player and a better man.”

James helped the Heat to four NBA Finals appearances, which included championships in 2012 and 2013.

With James off the board, Chris Bosh was expected to accept a max contract from the Houston Rockets, but he will return to the Heat, Yahoo! Sports reported. The defections could leave the Heat in shambles.

James thanked Heat owner Micky Arison and team President Pat Riley for his four “amazing” years in Miami.

He said he only left the Cavs the first time because he was in search of titles.

"When I left Cleveland, I was on a mission,” he told SI. “I was seeking championships, and we won two. But Miami already knew that feeling. Our city hasn’t had that feeling in a long, long, long time.

“But what’s most important for me is bringing one trophy back to Northeast Ohio. I always believed that I’d return to Cleveland and finish my career there. I just didn’t know when.”

As stated previously, it was important to James and his wife Savannah to raise their family in the Akron area. Savannah is pregnant with a girl.

“I wasn’t going to leave Miami for anywhere except Cleveland,” he said. “The more time passed, the more it felt right. This is what makes me happy.”

When he left in 2010, Cavs majority owner Dan Gilbert wrote a scathing letter in Comic Sans font ripping James. That was supposed to be a sticking point in the long wait in making the announcement, according to ESPN the Magazine’s Chris Broussard.

James said he’s hashed that out with Gilbert.

“I’ve met with Dan, face-to-face, man-to-man,” James said. “We’ve talked it out. Everybody makes mistakes. I’ve made mistakes as well. Who am I to hold a grudge?”

The Cavs boast some of the best young talent in the league, which includes two-time All-Star Kyrie Irving, guard Dion Waiters and No. 1 overall draft pick Andrew Wiggins.

“I’m not promising a championship,” he said. “I know how hard that is to deliver. We’re not ready right now. My patience will get tested. I know that. I’m going into a situation with a young team and a new coach (in David Blatt).

“But this is not about the roster or the organization. I feel my calling here goes above basketball. I have a responsibility to lead, in more ways than one, and I take that very seriously.”

James is a 10-time All-Star and a four-time Most Valuable Player. He’s averaged 27.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists in the first 11 seasons of his career.

About the Author

Bob has covered the Cavs for The News-Herald and Morning Journal since 1995. He's a graduate of Kent State University and New Philadelphia High School. Reach the author at rfinnan@news-herald.com
or follow Bob on Twitter: @BobCavsinsider.